Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides and Programme of Action on Confidence-Building

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Country/entity: Georgia
Abkhazia
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides and Programme of Action on Confidence-Building
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - )
The Abkhazia-Georgia Conflict (1992 - )
Much like other conflicts that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Abkhazia conflict emerged as an ethnic conflict following heighten nationalist awareness among Abkhaz and other minorities residing in the region. In 1978, protests against the Georgianization of Abkhazia emerged from Abkhaz intellectuals. Towards the end of the 1980s, both Georgian and Abkhaz nationalists demanded independence from the Soviet Union. Tensions began following clashes at Sukhumi University between pro-Unity protestors and Abkhaz nationalists in April-July 1989. However, the conflict remained a legal conflict up until August 1992 following the 1991 elections, wherein Abkhazians felt they were under-represented. War broke out between Abkhaz separatists, supported by Russian forces and hired fighters from the North Caucus. Within Abkhazia, Abkhaz separatists were generally supported by ethnically Armenian and Russian residents. Within Georgia the conflict was exacerbated following conflict in South Ossetia from 1989 onwards in addition to political strife between the supporters of the ousted president, Zviad Gamsakurdia, and the post-coup government led by Eduard Shevardnadze.

Significant human rights abuses occurred, particularly after the capture of Sukhumi in September 1993, after which Georgian residents, which consisted of 45 per cent of the population in 1989, were faced with mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing. Russian Peacekeepers acting under the umbrella of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), were deployed on the Abkhazia-Georgia line following a ceasefire in 1994. Atrocities towards ethnic Georgian’s continued with over 1,500 deaths post-conflict. In 1998 fighting re-erupted following a flare up of fighting in South Ossetia. Again it was resolved with a ceasefire agreement. However, as of 2016 the conflict remains unresolved.

The Russio-Georgian War (South Ossetia) (1989 - )
Following heightened nationalist awareness among Ossetians and policies undertaken at the expense of ethnic minorities by the Georgian government led by President Gamsakurdia, calls for Ossetian Independence increased. After clashes broke out in Tskhinvali during a pro-Georgia protest, the conflict began to militarize. When President Gamsakurdia maintained his position after elections in 1990, which were boycotted by South Ossetia, Ossetians organised elections for their own parliament. The central Georgian government reacted by abolishing the autonomous status previously held by South Ossetia. The formation of ethnic militias and increased attacks on civilians escalated on both sides and in December 1990 a state of emergency and an economic blockade were declared. Fighting was haphazard as fighters on both sides were poorly equipped and disciplined. The Georgian National Guard was primarily formed of volunteers due to a lack of resources and as a result fighters often acted out of self-interest. Assaults on Tskhinvali by Georgian forces were repulsed on several occasions, and Georgian forces were also noted to expel Ossetian residents and destroy villages out of revenge and as a means to re-claim territory.

The Sochi agreement (1992) established a ceasefire and security corridor, as well as divided the territory between Georgian and Ossetian administration. Relations deteriorated drastically in April 2008, and following shelling of Georgian villages on August 1, the Georgian military responded in force retaking most of Tskhinvali by August 7. Russian forces intervened on behalf of Ossetian separatists and after retaking Tskihvali, opened another front in the Kordori Gorge. A ceasefire was brokered on August 12, and the Kremlin declared its recognition of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26. Russian forces have since strengthened their military presence in those regions in violation of the ceasefire.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Abkhazia peace process
Parties: The Georgian Side was represented by a delegation headed by Mr. Giorgi Arsenishvili; The Abkhaz Side was represented by a delegation headed by Mr. Viacheslav Tsugba.
Third parties: Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Dieter Boden; Representatives of the Russian Federation as facilitator, representatives of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Secretary-General for Georgia — France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — representatives of OSCE, the Chief Military Observer of UNOMIG, the Commander of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and the Executive Secretary of the Georgian-Abkhaz Joint Coordination Commission also participated in the Meeting. At the invitation of the Ukraine.
Description: Sides reaffirm commitment to peaceful resolution and safe return of refugees. Sides requesting UN, the Group of Friends of the UNSG for Georgia, the OSCE and CIS to become guarantors for the process. Sides agree to adopt programme of confidence-building measures annexed to Declaration.

Agreement document: GE_010316_YaltaDeclarationGeorgianAbkhazSides.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Substantive
Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
1. To organize the meeting of the youth representatives of both Sides in Tsinandali.

Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 5. To support the conduct of seminars of young scientists of both Sides, within the framework of the projects of the Tbilisi School of Political Research.
Disabled persons: Groups→Disabled persons→Substantive
Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 3. To support the cooperation of organizations of war veterans and invalids of both Sides.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 1, Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides,
... They also noted the importance of reaching mutual understanding and accord, and placed special emphasis on their determination to intensify efforts to create the necessary conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees to their permanent residences, in the first phase to the Gali district within the old borders.

Page 1, Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides,
... On the basis of the above, striving to secure a durable peace, the Sides requested the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to appeal to the United Nations, the Group of Friends of the United Nations Secretary-General for Georgia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and CIS to become guarantors for the non-resumption of hostilities, the steady and safe return of refugees and displaced persons, in the first phase to the Gali district within the old borders, and to elaborate, with the participation of the Sides, the mechanism to implement these guarantees.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: [Summary] Page 5-6, Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides suggests series of meetings of youth reps of both sides, different political circles, war veterans and invalids of both sides, elders, young scientists, students, instructors, university lecturers, historians, librarians, Union of Writers, aviation reps;

Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 13. To promote media coverage of the process of mutual understanding between the Sides within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action on Confidence-building, including the activities of the Coordinating Council, its working groups and the Bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz Coordination Commission, as well as the implementation of joint economic, cultural and educational projects, the activities of non-governmental organizations, etc.
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 4. To support the continuation of meetings of the Elders of both Sides.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 13. To promote media coverage of the process of mutual understanding between the Sides within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action on Confidence-building, including the activities of the Coordinating Council, its working groups and the Bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz Coordination Commission, as well as the implementation of joint economic, cultural and educational projects, the activities of non-governmental organizations, etc.

Page 6, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
14. To broaden the exchange of newspapers between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides by exchanging an equal number of copies of Sakartvelos Respublica and Apsny, with the financial and material support of the United Nations and OSCE.

Page 6, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
15. For faster exchange of information, to provide technical support in setting up direct electronic communications between Apsnypress and Kavkazpress and other media agencies of both Sides, with the assistance of the United Nations.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 12. To establish cooperation in wine-making.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Tangible
Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 7. To support the continuation of contacts between the directors of the Tbilisi and Sukhumi libraries.
8. To organize meetings of the representatives of the Union of Writers of both Sides.
Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Promotion
Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 13. To promote media coverage of the process of mutual understanding between the Sides within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action on Confidence-building, including the activities of the Coordinating Council, its working groups and the Bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz Coordination Commission, as well as the implementation of joint economic, cultural and educational projects, the activities of non-governmental organizations, etc.
Environment: Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
11. To continue close cooperation on the question of moving radioactive wastes currently located at the Sukhumi Physico-technical Institute to a safe storage place.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides,
During the Meeting, in their desire to ensure favourable conditions for the continuation of the peace process so as to achieve a settlement and prevent a deterioration of the situation in the conflict zone, the Sides reaffirmed their commitments regarding the non-use of force against each other in resolving any disputes, with a view to achieving a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
[Summary] Annex lists various mean to promote confidence between Georgian and Abkhaz sides.

Page 5, Appendix; Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides
... 6. To organize meetings of students, instructors and lecturers at universities and other higher educational institutions of both Sides, including historians, with a view to restoring scientific ties and the exchange of information and lectures.
7. To support the continuation of contacts between the directors of the Tbilisi and Sukhumi libraries.

Implementation

UN signatory: Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Georgia as signatory and chairman.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides,
... The Sides noted the failure to prevent the resumption of military activities in May 1998, which appeared to be, inter alia, a consequence of the absence of reliable guarantees for the maintenance of peace. In the course of these events, there had also been a failure to employ in full all the mechanisms for the prevention of hostilities, including the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and UNOMIG. At the same time, the Sides recognize the stabilizing role of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and UNOMIG in the conflict zone.

Page 1, Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides,
... In case of a threat of military clashes or the resumption of military clashes, the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces, in accordance with their mandate of 26 May 1995, will undertake immediate measures to disengage military groups of the belligerents, along the disengagement line determined by the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994. The Sides reaffirm their commitments regarding the observance of the ceasefire accords. They also reaffirm their obligations to prevent actions which would threaten the life and security of the personnel of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and UNOMIG, and other international personnel deployed in the conflict zone.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 1, Yalta Declaration of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides,
... On the basis of the above, striving to secure a durable peace, the Sides requested the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to appeal to the United Nations, the Group of Friends of the United Nations Secretary-General for Georgia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and CIS to become guarantors for the non-resumption of hostilities, the steady and safe return of refugees and displaced persons, in the first phase to the Gali district within the old borders, and to elaborate, with the participation of the Sides, the mechanism to implement these guarantees.

Page 4, Appendix; Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides,
Have agreed on the following:
...3. The Sides designate the representatives who will inform the Coordinating Council at its future meetings of the progress made in implementing the confidencebuilding measures.

Page 4, Appendix; Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides,
Have agreed on the following:
...4. In order to ensure the most effective implementation of the confidencebuilding measures, both Sides undertake to provide, as necessary, the organizational and technical support for such implementation, including the preparation of the necessary travel documents and the provision of venues for meetings, and also undertake to encourage the development of bilateral contacts in general. The Sides commend the work of the Bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz Coordination Commission, reaffirm their readiness to provide it with necessary assistance and, in this connection, request the United Nations to facilitate its work and to provide technical, financial and other support.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker; http://peacemaker.un.org/georgia-yaltadeclaration2001

YALTA DECLARATION OF THE GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ SIDES

15-16 March 2001

The third Meeting of Confidence - building Measures between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides within the framework of the Geneva peace process under the auspices of the United Nations, took place in Yalta on 15 and 16 March 2001, under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary - General, Mr. Dieter Boden.

During the Meeting, in their desire to ensure favorable conditions for the continuation of the peace process so as to achieve a settlement and prevent a deterioration of the situation in the conflict zone, the Sides reaffirmed their commitments regarding the non-use of force against each other in resolving any disputes, with a view to achieving a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict.

They also noted the importance of reaching mutual understanding and accord, and placed special emphasis on their determination to intensify efforts to create the necessary conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees to their permanent residences, in the first phase to the Gali district within the old borders.

The Sides noted the failure to prevent the resumption of military activities in May 1998, which appeared to be, inter alia, a consequence of the absence of reliable guarantees for the maintenance of peace.

In the course of these events, there had also been a failure to employ in full all the mechanisms for the prevention of hostilities, including the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and UNOMING.

At the same time, the sides recognize the stabilizing role of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and UNOMING in the conflict zone.

On the basis of the above, striving to secure a durable peace, the Sides requested the Special Representative of the United nations Secretary- General to appeal to the United Nations, the Group of Friends of the United Nations Secretary - General for Georgia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and CIS to become guarantors for the non-resumption of hostilities, the steady and safe return of refugees and displaced persons, in the first phase to the Gali district within the old borders, and to elaborate, with the participation of the Sides, the mechanism to implement these guarantees.

In case of a treat of military clashes or the resumption of military clashes, the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces, in accordance with their mandate of 26 May 1995, will undertake immediate measures to disengage military groups of the belligerents, along the disengagement line determined by the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994.

The sides reaffirm their commitments regarding the observance of the cease-fire accords.

They also reaffirm their obligations to prevent actions, which would threaten the life and security of the personnel of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and UNOMING, and other international personnel deployed in the conflict zone.

The sides stressed that confidence-building measure are an important element of the peace process, facilitating progress towards a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

On the basis of the above, the Sides agreed to adopt the Programme of Action of Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides.

The Sides noted that the Special Representative of the Secretary - General would inform him about the outcome of this Meeting, and that the Secretary - General would subsequently report thereon to the UnitedNations Security Council.

The Sides and all the participants in the Meeting expressed their deep gratitude to the Government

of Ukraine for the invitation to hold the Meeting in Yalta, for its hospitality and for its active role in creating a constructive atmosphere, which made it possible to achieve important and substantial results.

For the Georgian Side G. Arsenishvili

For the Abkhaz Side V. Tsugba

For the United Nations D. Boden

For the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces N. Sidorichev

Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides

The third meeting on Confidence-building Measures between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides took place on 15 and 16 March in Yalta, at the invitation of the Government on Ukraine, under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Georgia, Mr. Dieter Boden, within the framework of the Geneva peace process for the settlement of the conflict under the auspices of the United Nations.

The Georgian Side was represented by a delegation headed by Mr. Giorgi Arsenishvili.

The Abkhaz Side was represented by a delegation headed by Mr. Viacheslav Tsugba.

Representatives of the Russian federation as facilitator, representatives of the Group of Friends of the United nations Secretary-general for Georgia - France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States - representatives of OSCE, the chief military Observer of UNOMIG, the Commander of CIS Collective the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces and the Executive Secretary of the Georgian - Abkhaz Joint Coordination Commission also participated in the Meeting.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine His Excellency Mr. Anatoli Zleko, welcomed the participants in the meeting and delivered an address from His Excellency the President of Ukraine, Mr. Leonid Kuchma.

On 14 March 2001, the President of Ukraine met the heads of the delegation of two Sides and the special representative of the United Nations Secretary – General for Georgia.

During the meeting the Sides,

Noting the importance of confidence-building measures for the strengthening of peace and concord and the achievement of reconciliation, and placing special emphasis on their determination to intensify efforts in this field;

Proceeding from the fact that confidence-building measures are by nature an integral part of the Geneva peace process under the auspices of the united Nations, which is facilitating progress towards a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict;

Have agreed on the following:

1.The two Sides recognize the need to improve and reinvigorate efforts in the field of confidence-building measures within the framework of the Geneva peace process.

In this connection, they reaffirm their readiness to implement in full the decisions adopted at the Athens and Istanbul Meetings on Confidence-building Measures.

Moreover, the Sides declare their intention to implement fully the decisions adopted at the Yalta meeting on Confidence-building Measures, including those elaborated with the participation of non-governmental organizations.

2. The Sides establish, within the framework of the Coordinating Council, a mechanism for reporting progress made in implementing the agreed Confidence-building Measures.

To this ed, the Sides undertake to create and maintain a database containing information on the progress made in implementing the projects.

The database will be accessible via electronic means to all the participants in the peace process.

The question of its funding will be discussed further.

3. The sides designate the representatives who will inform the Coordinating Council at its future meetings of the progress made in implementing the Confidence-building Measures.

4. In order to ensure the most effective implementation of the Confidence-building Measures, both Sides undertake to provide, as necessary, the organizational and technical support for such implementation, including the preparation of the necessary travel documents and the provision of venues for meetings, and also undertake to encourage the development of bilateral contacts in general.

The Sides commend the work of the Bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz Coordination Commission, reaffirm their readiness to provide it with necessary assistance and, in this connection, request the United Nations to facilitate its work and to provide technical, financial and other support.

5. The Sides approved the Annex containing the list of specific measures on confidence-building measures that are an integral part of the present Programme.

Annex to the Programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides

The present list of specific confidence-building measures has been prepared on the basis of the suggestions put forward during the Yalta Meeting, which took place on 15 and 16 march 2001.

This list is not exhaustive, and additional proposals by the Sides will be welcome.

The measures proposed constitute recommendations for further action.

The Sides agreed that the modalities for the implementations of these measures would be discussed at the upcoming session of the Coordinating Council.

Each Side shall promptly notify the Special representative in writing of the name of its representative designated in accordance with paragraph 3 of the programme of Action on Confidence-building between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.

1. To organize the meeting of youth representatives of both Sides in Tsinandali.

2. To organize meetings of representatives of different political circles of both Sides.

3. To support the cooperation of organizations of war veterans and invalids of both Sides.

4. To support the continuation of meetings of the Elders of both Sides.

5. To support the conduct of seminars of young scientists of both Sides, within the framework of the projects of the Tbilisi School of political Research.

6. To organize meetings of students, instructors and lecturers at universities and other higher educational institutions of both Sides, including historians, with a view to restoring scientific ties and the exchange of information and lectures.

7. To support the continuation of contacts between the directors of the Tbilisi and Sukhumi libraries.

8. To organize meetings of the representatives of the Union of Writers of both Sides.

9. To support the initiative to resume “Sukhumpribor” activities, with the participation of the representatives of both Sides.

10. To support the continuation of meetings of aviation representatives of both Sides.

11. To continue close cooperation on the question of moving radioactive wastes currently located at the Sukhumi Physic—technical Institute to a safe storage place.

12. To establish cooperation in winemaking.

13. To promote media coverage of the process of mutual understanding between the Sides within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action on Confidence-building, including the activities of the Coordinating Council, its working groups and the Bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz Coordination Commission, as well as the implementation of joint economic, cultural and educational projects, the activities of non-governmental organizations, etc.

14. To broaden the exchange of newspapers between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides by exchanging an equal number of copies of Sakartvelos Respublica and Apsny, with the financial and material support of the United Nations and OSCE.

15. For faster exchange of information, to provide technical support in setting up direct electronic communications between Apsnypress and Kavkazpress and other media agencies of both Sides, with the assistance of the United Nations.